Children are precious. They are the leaders, builders and hope for the future. For that reason, we need to ensure that they have healthy lifestyles. One way to achieve it is to take good care of what children eat for the sake of their physical health. Children need to eat their main meals of breakfast, lunch and dinner at the right time. The meals are to be balanced in portions of carbohydrate, protein, fat and vitamins. Other than that, they also should be served healthy snacks in between main meals. For example: yoghurt, milk, biscuits, fruits, raisins, nuts, etc. We could also give vitamins and other supplements to them like vitamin C and cod liver oil. However these supplements should not be substituting real fruits and foods that are rich in vitamins. Another important thing is to encourage children to drink lots of water. Water is needed to keep the body hydrated and energized.

Another way to ensure children to have a healthy lifestyle is to let them have much fun and recreation. Children are active and needs an outlet for their energy. They could have much fun at parks, gardens, playgrounds or even around the home. At the same time they could have exercises at these places. They might also learn many new things while having recreation outside of classroom and home. Recreation not just contributes to their physical health but also emotional health.

Children deserve to have a life free from what troubles adults. Somehow these days there are many children coming from dysfunctional background or broken families. Although we could not eliminate these issues, there are ways to attain the children’s emotional health being. We could allow them to voice up on what they are going through and how they feel. They will feel loved and respected when others give them a listening ear. Adults could help much by letting children know that they could fail and be imperfect in life yet still have value. Children could lead a healthy emotionally lifestyle if most adults give them examples of good character.

Maybe you or someone in your family has recently been diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder commonly known as multiple personalities.  Or maybe you have been wondering what could explain your partner’s apparent ability to completely change into someone totally different.  It might seem that this person suddenly becomes childish to get out of their responsibilities or they just won’t focus long enough to finish a task.  Just when you figure them out there is a change and the person in front of you has no recollection of what you are complaining about.

In fact a person with DID is often hard working, talented and successful in their career but in some strange ways not always. He or she often has a complex inner life and works hard to keep the rest of the world from knowing anything but the successful self.  It takes so much energy to deal with the chatter in their head; to keep alters from blurting out embarrassing comments and to cover-up their own confusing disorientation. There is a constant worry that they might switch, lose time or do something inappropriate in front of their families or colleagues. As a result exhaustion and anxiety are prevalent.

Whenever I have a client whose family members are willing to support their loved one through the healing journey I know my job will be easier.  My clients need a safe home surrounded by people who understand and accept the diagnosis.  Acceptance is not easy for either the client or the family member but the journey includes educating yourself, nurturing a support system and a great big dose of humor.

A diagnosis of DID is just a model for understanding unexpected changes in behavior, thoughts and emotions.  It is really a survival skill, honed in childhood trauma that continues in strange ways for the grown adult.  As wild as multiple personalities may seem it is actually full of potential for change and recovery.  Keep your sense of humor and go with the flow!